Method, system, and program product for discovering relevant information in a dynamic information system

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a method, system, and program product for discovering relevant information in a dynamic information system (DIS). An illustrative method according to the invention includes comparing information provided by the user to information in a network, determining whether the network contains information relevant to the information provided by the user, and displaying to the user an object containing the relevant information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTIONS

This invention is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/668,535“DYNAMIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/668,564 entitled “METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR THECREATION AND USE OF A UNIFIED DYNAMIC INFORMATION SYSTEM”, both filed oneven date herewith, assigned to the same assignee, and herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to dynamic information systems, and moreparticularly, to a method, system, and program product for discoveringrelevant information in a dynamic information system (DIS).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tacit knowledge is the detailed knowledge stored in a person's mind. Itis a valuable asset in most organizations. Typically, as the size of anorganization increases, the value to the organization of the tacitknowledge of its employees increases as well.

Despite its great value, organizations have historically been unable tofully or efficiently utilize the tacit knowledge of their employees.This is due, in part, to the very nature of tacit knowledge being bothvoluminous and highly differentiated. To date, approaches to utilizingtacit knowledge have involved manual processes, such as the designationand querying of known experts in a particular field, and computersoftware programs for entering, storing, and accessing tacit knowledgein a database, e.g., a knowledgebase. More recently, attempts to utilizetacit knowledge have included the automated scanning of electronic mailmessages between an organizations employees.

Such approaches suffer from a number of deficiencies. For example, itmay be unclear that one is even faced with a task or problem that maybenefit from the tacit knowledge of another member of the organization.That is, one may not realize that another member of the organization haspreviously executed the same task or overcome the same problem.Knowledge of such may enable an individual to greatly simplify his/herexecution of the task or solving of the problem and may also enable theindividual to avoid mistakes made by others.

Even when an individual knows that he or she is faced with a particularproblem, he or she may not be able to articulate the problem well enoughto determine which members of the organization may have experience withthe problem. For example, knowing that a computer program encounterserrors when running on a particular network may not enable an individualto determine whether the error is the result of a software flaw, ahardware failure, or a network failure. As a result, it may be unclearwhether he/she should seek help from individuals involved with writingthe software, those responsible for installation and/or maintenance ofthe hardware, or a network administrator.

In addition, once an individual having experience with the particularproblem is identified, the user may not be able to provide thatindividual sufficient context to enable the individual to provideguidance and/or a solution. For example, if it is determined that theerror above is the result of a software flaw, the user may not be ableto articulate to the individual all of the details (e.g., type of error,when error occurs, extent of error, etc.) necessary for that individualto accurately guide the user toward a solution.

Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficienciesand limitations described hereinabove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method, system, and program product fordiscovering relevant information in a dynamic information system (DIS).An illustrative method according to the invention includes comparinginformation provided by the user to information in a network,determining whether the network contains information relevant to theinformation provided by the user, and displaying to the user an objectcontaining the relevant information.

A first aspect of the invention provides a method for discoveringrelevant information in a dynamic information system (DIS), the methodcomprising: tracking information provided by a user of the DIS;comparing the information provided by the user to information in anetwork; determining whether the network contains information relevantto the information provided by the user; and in the case that it isdetermined that the network contains information relevant to theinformation provided by the user, displaying to the user an objectcontaining the relevant information.

A second aspect of the invention provides a system for discoveringrelevant information in a dynamic information system (DIS), the systemcomprising: a first system for tracking information provided by a userof the DIS; a second system for comparing the information provided bythe user to information in a network; a third system for determiningwhether the network contains information relevant to the informationprovided by the user; and a fourth system for displaying to the user anobject containing the relevant information.

A third aspect of the invention provides a program product stored on acomputer-readable medium, which when executed, is operable to discoverrelevant information in a dynamic information system (DIS), the programproduct comprising: program code for tracking information provided by auser of the DIS; program code for comparing the information provided bythe user to information in a network; program code for determiningwhether the network contains information relevant to the informationprovided by the user; and program code for displaying to the user anobject containing the relevant information.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method for deploying anapplication for discovering relevant information in a dynamicinformation system (DIS), comprising: providing a computerinfrastructure being operable to: track information provided by a userof the DIS; compare the information provided by the user to informationin a network; determine whether the network contains informationrelevant to the information provided by the user; and display to theuser an object containing the relevant information.

The illustrative aspects of the present invention are designed to solvethe problems herein described and other problems not discussed, whichare discoverable by a skilled artisan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative network according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative illustrative network according to theinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of an illustrative method according to theinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an illustrative system according to theinvention.

It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. Thedrawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention,and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of theinvention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elementsbetween the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, the invention provides a method, system, and programproduct for discovering relevant information in a dynamic informationsystem (DIS). In one embodiment, the invention comprises a pair ofcomputer software modules—a searcher module and an observer module—thatcan be embedded in a unified dynamic information system (UDIS) toautomatically search the system for sources of tacit knowledge. A UDIScontains metadata related to both human processes and technologycomponents within the meta-system of a DIS.

Because a UDIS embeds metadata within a DIS meta-system in anasymmetrical navigational form, and because the meta-metadata for theUDIS is also embedded, the present invention provides a number ofadvantages. First, within a specific metadata context, a user can seekother UDISs within his/her organization that include relevantinformation (e.g., a solution to a particular problem) and identifythose individuals within the organization responsible for the entryand/or management of that information. In some embodiments, a systemaccording to the invention may notify a user whether such an individualis available online or through some other communication medium.

Second, once such an individual is identified, he/she may be givenaccess to the user's data in order to provide adequate context toprovide advice or offer a solution to the user's particular problem ortask. Such an individual may even provide examples from his/her UDISthat may help a user in completing his/her task or solving his/herproblem.

Third, an observer module according to the invention may monitor auser's work and compare it to predefined rules and/or preexisting datain a UDIS and alert the user if his/her work is inconsistent with suchrules and/or data. Thus, a user's work may be compared to similar workpreviously conducted by another individual in an organization in orderto avoid the user's work deviating from the previous work. A systemaccording to the invention may even request intervention by anothermember of the organization, in the case that a user's work isinconsistent with particular rules and/or data. Such comparisons againstpredefined rules and/or preexisting data may also be scheduled to occurat various points in a user's work. For example, such comparisons may bescheduled periodically (e.g., once per week) or at particular stages(e.g., at the end of a creation phase, following a major change, etc.).

Fourth, while the examples below generally depict the interaction of twoor more UDISs within an organization, the present invention is equallyapplicable to universal description, discovery, and integration systems(UDDISs) between organizations. Thus, an organization may wish tocollaborate with another organization by allowing their respectivemembers to share information and resources as would members within eachorganization.

The advantages described above are simply a few of those offered by thepresent invention, the details of which will now be more fully describedwith respect to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an illustrative network 1000 accordingto the invention, the network 1000 including a plurality of DISinstances 100, 200, 300. Each DIS instance may function as will bedescribed below with respect to DIS instance 100 and/or may interactwith another DIS instance (e.g., 200, 300) via an Internet/Intranetconnection 180 or other communication medium.

As shown in FIG. 1, DIS instance 100 includes a DIS or UDIS 110 and alocal database 140. In addition, DIS instance 100 includes a searchermodule 120 and an observer module 130. Observer module 130 is capable ofcomparing a change to the DIS or UDIS 110 made by the user with at leastone of the following: a predefined rule and preexisting DIS or UDISdata, determining whether the user's change complies with at least oneof the following: the predefined rule and the preexisting DIS or UDISdata. Observer module 130 is further capable of amending the predefinedrule to comport with the user's change and/or notifying the user thatthe user's change does not comply with the predefined rule and/oramending the preexisting DIS data to comport with the user's changeand/or notifying the user that the user's change does not comply withthe preexisting DIS data.

Observer module 130 includes separate processing threads embedded in ameta-system of the DIS or UDIS 110, allowing comparison of metadatastructures created by a user to corresponding canonical metadatastructures in the DIS or UDIS 110. Thus, observer module 130 facilitatesthe tracking 136 of changes 112 to the DIS or UDIS 110 made by a userand/or the comparison 134 of such changes to predetermined rules withinthe DIS or UDIS 110, as stored in local database 140. As noted above, analert 150 may be generated 114 to notify a user that his/her changes areinconsistent with predetermined rules and/or preexisting data in the DISor UDIS 110. Observer module 130 is also operable to monitor 132 thefunction of searcher module 120, described below.

Searcher module 120 is capable of tracking information provided by auser of DIS or UDIS 110, comparing the information provided by the userto information in a network (e.g., network 1000), determining whetherthe network contains information relevant to the information provided bythe user, and, in the case that it is determined that the networkcontains information relevant to the information provided by the user,displaying to the user an object containing the relevant information.

More specifically, searcher module 120 implements a search algorithmbased upon traversal of a network of objects and relationships, e.g.,DIS or UDIS 110. Preferably, such objects and relationships are capableof representation in extensible markup language (XML) or other format,such that a fragment of metadata from one DIS instance (e.g., 100) maybe discovered in another DIS instance (e.g., 200, 300). Such searchesmay, therefore, be made locally 122 (i.e., within DIS or UDIS 110) orexternally 124 (i.e., between DIS instances 100, 200, and 300 in network1000).

Preferably, each object and relationship in the network is versioned,such that its status and authors/owners are known. This facilitates notonly the exclusion of invalid or unreliable data from searches, but alsothe reporting of appropriate contacts to a user, along with whateverrelevant information is discovered during the search.

For example, in assembling a plan for a computer network using DISinstance 100, a user may discover, using searcher module 120, that aplan for a similar computer network is contained in DIS instance 200. Itmay be desirable, however, to not only know of the existence of such aplan and have access to it, but also to know the identity of theauthor(s) or owner(s) of the plan, should the user desire to contactthem for additional information or guidance. Network 1000 may,therefore, include a system for contacting such author(s) or owner(s)or, if preferred, requesting permission from such author(s) or owner(s)to release their identities to a user.

The present invention is applicable to virtually any type of storedinformation. While information technology (IT) applications may be moreapparent, such as the assembly of a plan for a computer networkdescribed above, the present invention is not limited to suchinformation. Any type of information stored in a database may be used inpracticing the present invention.

For example, FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a non-IT application of thepresent invention. Network 2000 includes a pair of DIS instances 400,500 communicating over an Internet/Intranet connection 480, as describedabove with respect to FIG. 1. DIS instance 400 is being used by a firstbiologist researching binding affinities for Receptor A. Table 460,stored in the local database 440 of DIS instance 400, includes a list ofcompounds 462 and their corresponding binding affinities 464 forReceptor A. As shown, the compound 6-Substituted Androst-4-ene Analog18a 462A has a binding affinity 464A of 3.100 and the compoundHydroxylated 3-Deoxy C19 Steroid 27 462B has a binding affinity 464B of3.400.

DIS instance 500 is being used by a second biologist researching bindingaffinities for Receptor B. Table 560, stored in the local database 540of DIS instance 500, includes a list of compounds 562 and bindingaffinities 564, similar to that in table 460. Table 560 also includesthe compound Hydroxylated 3-Deoxy C19 Steroid 27 562A and shows itsbinding affinity 564A for Receptor B to also be 3.400.

Thus, via searches 424, 524 between DIS instances 400, 500, one or bothof the first and second biologist may discover that each is studying thesame compound and/or that the compound has the same affinity for bothReceptor A and Receptor B. By viewing the contents of table 460 and/orcontacting the first biologist, it may occur to the second biologist,for example, that he/she should also test the binding affinity of6-Substituted Androst-4-ene Analog 18a for Receptor B, given thesimilarity of affinities of Hydroxylated 3-Deoxy C19 Steroid 27 for bothreceptors. It may also occur to one or both biologists that Receptor Aand Receptor B are, in fact, the same receptor and that their studiesare duplicative. In such a case, greater efficiency and cost savings maybe realized by either combining the research of the biologists orhalting the studies of one of the biologists.

The non-IT example shown in FIG. 2 is merely illustrative and is in noway to be viewed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Asnoted above, any type of information stored in a database may be used inpracticing the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of an illustrative method according to theinvention. At S1, searcher module 120 (FIG. 1) tracks informationentered by a user into a DIS. At S2, the information tracked at S1 iscompared to information available in the DIS or a network of DISinstances (e.g., network 1000 of FIG. 1).

At S3 it is determined whether information relevant to the informationtracked at S1 is contained within the DIS or network of DIS instances.As explained above, this may be accomplished, for example, by searchingmetadata of the DIS or network of DIS instances using a searchalgorithm. If no relevant information is found (i.e., “NO” at S3), auser may optionally be notified of such at S4 and flow loop to S1. Ifrelevant information is found (i.e., “YES” at S3), the relevantinformation and/or database objects containing the relevant informationis displayed to the user at S5.

Optionally, an identity of an owner of the relevant informationdisplayed at S5 may be displayed to the user at S6. In response, a usermay optionally request help from the owner at S7.

At S8 through S11, a user's changes may optionally be compared topreexisting rules or data in a DIS and the user notified of anyinconsistencies. At S8, a change to the DIS made by a user is comparedto preexisting rules and/or preexisting data in the DIS. At S9, it isdetermined whether the user's change complies with the preexisting rulesand/or preexisting data. If so (i.e., “YES” at S9), flow may be loopedto S8 and additional changes compared. If not (i.e., “NO” at S9), thepreexisting rule and/or preexisting data may be amended at S10 tocomport with the user's change and/or the user may be notified at S11 ofthe change's noncompliance with a preexisting rule and/or preexistingdata.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative system 10 for discovering relevantinformation in a DIS. To this extent, system 10 includes a computerinfrastructure 12 that can perform the various process steps describedherein for discovering relevant information in a DIS. In particular,computer infrastructure 12 is shown including a computer system 14 thatcomprises a relevant information discovery system 40, which enablescomputer system 14 to discover relevant information in a DIS byperforming the process steps of the invention.

Computer system 14 is shown including a processing unit 20, a memory 22,an input/output (I/O) interface 26, and a bus 24. Further, computersystem 14 is shown in communication with external devices 28 and astorage system 30. As is known in the art, in general, processing unit20 executes computer program code, such as relevant informationdiscovery system 40, that is stored in memory 22 and/or storage system30. While executing computer program code, processing unit 20 can readand/or write data from/to memory 22, storage system 30, and/or I/Ointerface 26. Bus 24 provides a communication link between each of thecomponents in computer system 14. External devices 28 can comprise anydevice that enables a user (not shown) to interact with computer system14 or any device that enables computer system 14 to communicate with oneor more other computer systems.

In any event, computer system 14 can comprise any general purposecomputing article of manufacture capable of executing computer programcode installed by a user (e.g., a personal computer, server, handhelddevice, etc.). However, it is understood that computer system 14 andrelevant information discovery system 40 are only representative ofvarious possible computer systems that may perform the various processsteps of the invention. To this extent, in other embodiments, computersystem 14 can comprise any specific purpose computing article ofmanufacture comprising hardware and/or computer program code forperforming specific functions, any computing article of manufacture thatcomprises a combination of specific purpose and general purposehardware/software, or the like. In each case, the program code andhardware can be created using standard programming and engineeringtechniques, respectively.

Similarly, computer infrastructure 12 is only illustrative of varioustypes of computer infrastructures for implementing the invention. Forexample, in one embodiment, computer infrastructure 12 comprises two ormore computer systems (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over anytype of wired and/or wireless communications link, such as a network, ashared memory, or the like, to perform the various process steps of theinvention. When the communications link comprises a network, the networkcan comprise any combination of one or more types of networks (e.g., theInternet, a wide area network, a local area network, a virtual privatenetwork, etc.). Regardless, communications between the computer systemsmay utilize any combination of various types of transmission techniques.

As previously mentioned, relevant information discovery system 40enables computer system 14 to discover relevant information in a DIS. Tothis extent, relevant information discovery system 40 is shown includinga searching system 42 (comprising a tracking system 42A, a comparingsystem 42B, a determining system 42C, a displaying system 42D, and arequesting system 42E) and an observing system 44 (comprising acomparing system 44A, a determining system 44B, and a notifying system44C). Operation of each of these systems is discussed above. Relevantinformation discovery system 40 may further include other systemcomponents 54 to provide additional or improved functionality torelevant information discovery system 40. It is understood that some ofthe various systems shown in FIG. 4 can be implemented independently,combined, and/or stored in memory for one or more separate computersystems 14 that communicate over a network. Further, it is understoodthat some of the systems and/or functionality may not be implemented, oradditional systems and/or functionality may be included as part ofsystem 10.

While shown and described herein as a method and system for discoveringrelevant information in a DIS, it is understood that the inventionfurther provides various alternative embodiments. For example, in oneembodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable medium thatincludes computer program code to enable a computer infrastructure todiscover relevant information in a DIS. To this extent, thecomputer-readable medium includes program code, such as relevantinformation discovery system 40, that implements each of the variousprocess steps of the invention. It is understood that the term“computer-readable medium” comprises one or more of any type of physicalembodiment of the program code. In particular, the computer-readablemedium can comprise program code embodied on one or more portablestorage articles of manufacture (e.g., a compact disc, a magnetic disk,a tape, etc.), on one or more data storage portions of a computersystem, such as memory 22 and/or storage system 30 (e.g., a fixed disk,a read-only memory, a random access memory, a cache memory, etc.),and/or as a data signal traveling over a network (e.g., during awired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code).

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method thatperforms the process steps of the invention on a subscription,advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider could offerto discover relevant information in a DIS, as described above. In thiscase, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc., acomputer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure 12, thatperforms the process steps of the invention for one or more customers.In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s)under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service providercan receive payment from the sale of advertising space to one or morethird parties.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method ofgenerating a system for discovering relevant information in a DIS. Inthis case, a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure12, can be obtained (e.g., created, maintained, having made availableto, etc.) and one or more systems for performing the process steps ofthe invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified,etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, thedeployment of each system can comprise one or more of (1) installingprogram code on a computer system, such as computer system 14, from acomputer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computer systems to thecomputer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying one ormore existing systems of the computer infrastructure, to enable thecomputer infrastructure to perform the process steps of the invention.

As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and“computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in anylanguage, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause acomputer system having an information processing capability to perform aparticular function either directly or after either or both of thefollowing: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and (b)reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, program codecan be embodied as one or more types of program products, such as anapplication/software program, component software/a library of functions,an operating system, a basic I/O system/driver for a particularcomputing and/or I/O device, and the like.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

1. A method for discovering relevant information in a dynamicinformation system (DIS), the method comprising: employing at least onecomputing device for: tracking information entered by a user of the DIS;determining for the user, based on the information entered by the user,an initial appropriate context within which to search for relevantinformation; searching for relevant information by: comparing, withinthe initial appropriate context, the information entered by the user toinformation in a network; and determining whether the network containsinformation relevant to the information entered by the user; in the casethat it is determined that the network contains information relevant tothe information entered by the user: displaying to the user an objectcontaining the relevant information; seeking permission from an owner ofthe object to release his/her identity to the user; and in the case thatpermission from the owner is granted, displaying to the user theidentity of the owner of the object; comparing a change to the DIS madeby the user with at least one of the following: a predefined rule orpreexisting DIS data; determining whether the user's change complieswith at least one of the following: the predefined rule or thepreexisting DIS data: in the case that the user's change does not complywith the predefined rule, performing one of the following: amending thepredefined rule to comport with the user's change or notifying the userthat the user's change does not comply with the predefined rule: and inthe case that the user's change does not comply with the preexisting DISdata, performing one of the following: amending the preexisting DIS datato comport with the user's change or notifying the user that the user'schange does not comply with the preexisting DIS data.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the DIS includes data, metadata, and rules stored in anasymmetrical navigational database.
 3. The method of claim 2, whereinthe data, metadata, and rules are capable of representation inextensible markup language (XML).
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theDIS comprises a unified dynamic information system (UDIS).
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the DIS comprises a universal description,discovery, and integration system (UDDIS).
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: providing the owner of the object with access todata from the user's DIS.
 7. A system for discovering relevantinformation in a dynamic information system (DIS), the systemcomprising: at least one computing device; a system for trackinginformation entered by a user of the DIS; a system for determining forthe user, based on the information entered by the user, an initialappropriate context within which to search for relevant information; asystem for searching for relevant information by: comparing, within theinitial appropriate context, the information entered by the user toinformation in a network; and determining whether the network containsinformation relevant to the information entered by the user; a systemfor displaying to the user an object containing the relevantinformation; a system for seeking permission from an owner of the objectto release his/her identity to the user; a system for displaying to theuser the identity of the owner of the object; a system for comparing achange to the DIS made by the user with at least one of the following: apredefined rule or preexisting DIS data; a system for determiningwhether the user's change complies with at least one of the following:the predefined rule or the preexisting DIS data; a system for performingat least one of the following: amending the predefined rule to comportwith the user's change or notifying the user that the user's change doesnot comply with the predefined rule; and a system for performing atleast one of the following: amending the preexisting DIS data to comportwith the user's change or notifying the user that the user's change doesnot comply with the preexisting DIS data.
 8. The system of claim 7,wherein the DIS includes data, metadata, and rules stored in anasymmetrical navigational database and capable of representation inextensible markup language (XML).
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein theDIS comprises at least one of the following: a unified dynamicinformation system (UDIS) and a universal description, discovery, andintegration system (UDDIS).
 10. The system of claim 7, furthercomprising: a system for providing the owner of the object with accessto data from the user's DIS.
 11. A program product stored on acomputer-readable storage medium, which when executed, is operable todiscover relevant information in a dynamic information system (DIS), theprogram product comprising: program code for tracking informationentered by a user of the DIS; program code for determining for the user,based on the information entered by the user, an initial appropriatecontext within which to search for relevant information; program codefor searching for relevant information by: comparing, within the initialappropriate context, the information entered by the user to informationin a network; and determining whether the network contains informationrelevant to the information entered by the user; program code fordisplaying to the user an object containing the relevant information;program code for seeking permission from an owner of the object torelease his/her identity to the user; program code for displaying to theuser the identity of the owner of the object; program code for comparinga change to the DIS made by the user with at least one of the following:a predefined rule or preexisting DIS data; program code for determiningwhether the user's change complies with at least one of the following:the predefined rule or the preexisting DIS data; program code forperforming at least one of the following: amending the predefined ruleto comport with the user's change or notifying the user that the user'schange does not comply with the predefined rule; and program code forperforming at least one of the following: amending the preexisting DISdata to comport with the user's change or notifying the user that theuser's change does not comply with the preexisting DIS data.
 12. Theprogram product of claim 11, wherein the DIS includes data, metadata,and rules stored in an asymmetrical navigational database and capable ofrepresentation in extensible markup language (XML).
 13. The programproduct of claim 11, wherein the DIS comprises at least one of thefollowing: a unified dynamic information system (UDIS) and a universaldescription, discovery, and integration system (UDDIS).
 14. The programproduct of claim 11, further comprising: program code for providing theowner of the object with access to data from the user's DIS.
 15. Amethod for deploying an application for discovering relevant informationin a dynamic information system (DIS), comprising: providing a computerinfrastructure being operable to: track information entered by a user ofthe DIS; determine for the user, based on the information entered by theuser, an initial appropriate context within which to search for relevantinformation; search for relevant information by: comparing theinformation entered by the user to information in a network; anddetermining whether the network contains information relevant to theinformation entered by the user; display to the user an objectcontaining the relevant information; seek permission from an owner ofthe object to release his/her identity to the user; display to the userthe identity of the owner of the object; compare a change to the DISmade by the user with at least one of the following: a predefined ruleor preexisting DIS data; determine whether the user's change complieswith at least one of the following: the predefined rule or thepreexisting DIS data; in the case that the user's change does not complywith the predefined rule, perform at least one of the following: amendthe predefined rule to comport with the user's change or notify the userthat the user's change does not comply with the predefined rule; and inthe case that the user's change does not comply with the preexisting DISdata, perform at least one of the following: amend the preexisting DISdata to comport with the user's change or notify the user that theuser's change does not comply with the preexisting DIS data.